The Medical journal of Australia
-
Coronary angioplasty and coronary artery stents have revolutionised interventional cardiology. Contemporary coronary stent technology continues to seek to improve on the outcomes of the preceding generation of devices by refining their design, structure and component materials. These technologies include new generations of drug-eluting stents, non-polymeric stents, bioresorbable polymer-coated stents, and fully bioresorbable scaffolds. This review discusses the evolution of coronary stent technology, the efficacy and safety of currently available devices, and the rationale for new generation platforms as efforts continue to design the ideal coronary stent technology.
-
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis if not treated. Pharmacological treatment options for PAH have increased significantly over the past 10 years, with availability of intravenous, oral and inhaled drugs targeting the nitric oxide, endothelin and prostacyclin pathways. ⋯ Recognition of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is important, as this cause of pulmonary hypertension may be amenable to surgical treatment. Several new oral drugs, including macitentan, riociguat and selexipag, some of which have novel modes of action, and the use of combinations of PAH drugs have recently been shown to be beneficial in treating PAH and are likely to change treatment for this condition in the future.
-
To estimate the potential economic benefits of closing the Indigenous health gap by quantifying the economic burden associated with Indigenous health inequality in the Northern Territory. ⋯ Our findings highlight the long term potential benefits of the Australian governments' Closing the Gap initiative for the NT. Successful implementation of this initiative will require improving government services by combating discrimination, developing local economies, overcoming poverty, and reducing the disadvantages associated with remoteness.